8 Beach Reads So Good, They're Worth The Space In Your Carry-On

Funny Story by Emily Henry

Emily Henry is arguably the queen of contemporary romantic comedy, and Funny Story epitomizes her writing style. This tale follows Daphne, a children's librarian who thinks she's finally found her happily ever after. Well, that's until her fiancé, Peter, confesses he's actually in love with his childhood best friend, Petra.

Daphne finds herself broke, blindsided, and forced to move in with Petra's ex-boyfriend, Miles. Together, the pair concoct a plan to make their exes jealous, but what starts as a fake-it-until-you-make-it scheme spirals into something much more.

Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid

You might know Taylor Jenkins Reid as the author of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo or Daisy Jones & the Six. But her latest book, Atmosphere, brings readers on a brand-new journey into the 1980s Space Shuttle program.

The story follows Joan Goodwin, an astronomy professor who takes a leap of faith by applying to become one of NASA's first female scientists in space. Her training in Houston introduces her to a cast of unforgettable characters, but it's her connection with one specific astronaut that launches an unexpected romance.

The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren

What do you get when you mix a fake marriage, a billionaire heir, and a tropical island wedding? A rom-com you just can't put down.

In The Paradise Problem, Anna Green is a struggling artist who discovers that her fake college marriage to Liam Weston, which was purely to help her secure student housing, was actually a contractual necessity for Liam to inherit a fortune. So, five years later, they have to pretend to be happily married for one week at his sister's destination wedding.

Not only is this book hilarious, but it's also packed with romantic tension that'll whisk you away as you sit seaside.

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

This work by Gabrielle Zevin is definitely not your typical love story, yet that's what makes it so much more endearing.

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow tells the story of childhood friends Sam and Sadie, who reunite in college and start building video games together. This catapults them to global fame before they're even out of their twenties, but hidden beneath their success is a complex relationship that spans decades.

The novel explores themes of love, loss, ambition, identity, disability, and our human desire to love and be loved.

Anxious People by Fredrik Backman

In Anxious People, Fredrik Backman managed to write a raw and surprisingly funny story about a failed bank robbery that turned into a hostage situation.

A group of eight strangers is thrown together during the standoff, each of whom carries their own fears, regrets, and hopes. You'll get to know the characters on a deep level, learning about their identities and realizing that we all have more in common than we think.

Anxious People is charming and the kind of story that will make you laugh one second while tearing up the next.

The Wedding People by Alison Espach

This novel by Alison Espach follows Phoebe, a divorced and depressed woman who checks into a hotel known as the Cornwall Inn with plans to take her own life. However, fate (or, rather, a lavish wedding at the inn) intervenes. And the bride refuses to let Phoebe give up.

While The Wedding People has a dark premise, it's a shockingly light read that mixes dry humor with themes of starting over and finding meaning in unlikely places.

Slipstream by Madge Maril (May 20, 2025)

If you're more into high-speed, chemistry-filled books, Slipstream by Madge Maril blends revenge with romance. It centers around Lilah, a filmmaker fresh off a brutal breakup with her ex, who both cheated on her and betrayed her in their joint film business.

So, after she's tasked with documenting Arthur, a Formula 1 racecar driver, she hatches a plan. Lilah and Arthur start by working together on a mutually beneficial arrangement, but it quickly turns into something more emotionally charged.

Good Material by Dolly Alderton

Finally, Good Material by Dolly Alderton offers a sharper, more nuanced take on the traditional breakup story by sharing a guy's perspective. It follows Andy, a stand-up comedian who's reeling after a painful breakup with his ex, Jen, whom he still believes is "the one."

So, amidst his stalled career, he can't stop obsessing over what went wrong. Good Material captures the real-life messiness of modern love set against the relatable experience of trying to grow up without a clear path.